Tagliani will compete for the team in the June 21 event at Road America in Wisconsin, and again on Aug. 16 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The No. 22 Discount Tire Ford won at both Road America and Mid-Ohio last season with A.J. Allmendinger behind the wheel.

“This is a great opportunity to get back in a NASCAR Nationwide Series car and to do it for one of the best teams in the series and one of the greatest owners the sport has ever seen – Roger Penske,” said Tagliani. “I’ve been able to run for ‘The Captain’ one other time in my career in a stock car and we were so close to winning the race. This gives me two great chances to get my first Nationwide Series win. And with the team winning both of these races last year, I guess you could say the pressure is on me to get the job done this season.”

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Tagliani has made four NNS starts over the course of his racing career, which has included memorable performances in IndyCar, CART, Sports Cars, V8 Supercars and several other forms of motorsports. He made two NNS starts in 2009, and competed in one series race in both 2011 and 2012. In 2011, Tagliani drove the No. 12 car for Team Penske in his home race at Montreal, where he started second and finished second after leading 11 laps.

Tagliani is also a former Indianapolis 500 pole winner, as he captured the prestigious pole position in 2011. He is a former winner at Road America as he took the checkered flag in the 2004 CART Series race at the legendary road course. Tagliani has also won in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in his career.

“I have known Alex for a long time and he has driven for our team before, so he was the ideal choice to race the Discount Tire Ford for these upcoming road course events,” said Roger Penske. “Alex is a proven winner in both open-wheel and stock car competition. He has competed for wins each of the last two times he has raced in the Nationwide Series, including with Team Penske back in 2011. I think he, (crew chief) Jeremy Bullins and the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford team will be tough to beat at both Road America and Mid-Ohio this season.”